Bell-Jeff Gets Overwhelmed in Second Half by Big Bear

SAN BERNARDINO —  After a dormant first half, the Big Bear High football team came out of hibernation, scoring 22 second-half points to beat Bell-Jeff, 28-19, in a first-round game of the Southern Section Division X playoffs Saturday night at Aquinas High.

Trailing, 21-13, late in the game, Bell-Jeff quarterback Richard Szeptycki connected with David Matekel on a 20-yard scoring pass to close to within 21-19. The Guards went for a two-point conversion, but Szeptycki’s pass sailed through the hands of receiver David Quintero.

“We thought we had a good shot at the two-point conversion,” Bell-Jeff Coach Doug Woodlief said.

“They grabbed our back coming out of the backfield.”

Bell-Jeff (6-5) tried an onside kick but the Bears’ Jesse Winkler returned 48 it yards for a score.

Szeptycki completed 17 of 24 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He threw scoring strikes of 79 and 20 yards to Matekel (five catches for 151 yards) and added a 20-yard touchdown pass to Victor Ayala.

Big Bear’s Robert Benson completed 10 of 14 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, and scored on a three-yard run.

John Clays rushed for 71 yards in seven carries for the Bears (8-2-1). He also kicked a 30-yard field goal and returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown.

Bell-Jeff’s John Pawlik gained 51 yards in 10 carries.